Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Louvain Rees ⚰️ @hellohistoria.bsky.social · 1d

Last week I was going through index cards given to the history society and I found a section on ghosts 👻

'The Tall Man of Ewenny Hill' is such a terrible ghost name. I hope he's okay 👻

1 2 16

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Cordelia Beattie @cordeliabeattie.bsky.social · 1d

The Thorntons helped Christopher and Anne Danby out in the 1660s. Alice was still pursuing this 'debt' in her last will and testament, written in 1705! #EarlyModern 📜 🗃️

Alice Thornton's Books @thorntonsbooks.bsky.social · 1d

8 Oct. 1688 #OTD Thornton wrote to her great-nephew, Abstrupus Danby, seeking help with her son’s debts. She reminded him ‘how sad and necessitous a condition your father and mother ... were in for several years when their just right was detained from them and they cast off by all’. #EarlyModern 1/2

Outside of a 17th-century letter. Addressed to Abstrupus Danby at his house in York. Above that he has annotated it as a letter from his aunt Thornton, about what she did for his family, and that he is willing to pay her £50 next Martinmas.

2 3 13

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

The Scottish Record Society @scotrecsoc.bsky.social · 17h

#OTD (9th Oct) 1538 - John Mathesoun, Chancellor of the Cathedral Church of Caithness (#Dornoch) asked that the Pope would grant him indult to use the divine office and canonical hours published by Francis, ‘cardinal priest of Sta Croce in Gerusalemme’. www.scottishrecordsociety.org.uk

2 1

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Explore York Archive @yorkarchive.bsky.social · 2d

We are sharing some of the #monsters in our Knowles collection. The collection contains lots of early illustrations, templates, and research notes of existing artworks and designs in churches in York, England, and parts of Europe.

#EYAMonsters #EYA #archives

Two medieval-style illustrations of a person figting mythical monsters. Text above describes designs on glass at York, text below describes the wool embroidary that these images are from.

Pencil sketches of a heraldic eagle, a shield, a fish and a dragon-like creatures on aged paper.

Two images of creatures from St. Martin's Church in Spurriergate, York; left: a horned demonic creature, right: a lion-like creature.

1 2 7

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Dundee City Archives @dundeecityarchives.bsky.social · 4d

200 years ago a woman named Margaret McDonald was transported to Australia for using and passing on forged bank notes. We found her in some rare documents in the archives. This is her story. #Dundee #Archives

The Female Convict of 1825

We found an interesting series of documents tucked away in the Towns Clerk’s correspondence file of 1825.

dundeecityarchives.wordpress.com

7 9

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Norfolk Record Office @norfolkro.bsky.social · 2d

"Both discoveries show the crucial role of county council archives and their staff in preserving this musical heritage." We couldn't agree more! www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

‘Almost unheard of’: experts find more music by English composer Henry Purcell

Printed score and keyboard manuscript by Purcell, who died in 1695, unearthed in Worcestershire and Norfolk

www.theguardian.com

1 5

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Richard Ovenden @richove.bsky.social · 2d

MLGB is back!! Delighted that Medieval Libraries of Great Britain @bodleian.ox.ac.uk is now back online. We are also working had on plans for the next phase of the resource, enhancing & adding data & functionality. HUGE thanks to my colleagues for their hard & clever work mlgb.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

2 110 240

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Adam Chapman @adamchapman.bsky.social · 3d

This is a lovely article which did a lot to clarify my thoughts on how @vch-home.bsky.social has adopted approaches which engage with creators who are also members of its audience. If you can't access it and would like to read it, do drop me a line.

Victoria County History @vch-home.bsky.social · 3d

This from our Co-General Editor, @ruthslater.bsky.social, engages with how we cultivate participatory projects that embed local communities in the development of local histories and allow these communities to reflect on how their histories have shaped their collective identities. [Full Text £] 🗃️

Ruth Slatter @ruthslatter.bsky.social · 3d

3/ In the 1st article, I reflect on @vch-home.bsky.social as participatory historical geography, arguing that the VCH's current emphasis on participatory methods shows how long-standing research projects can adopt these developing ways of working rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

2 7

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Llafur: The Welsh People’s History Society @llafur.bsky.social · 3d

Are you of African/Caribbean descent with ties to the Valleys? The Black Valleys Project would love to hear your story!

Help support the creation of new Black Welsh History resources for local schools.

🗓️Friday 24th October
🕰️2pm
📍Rhondda Heritage Park Museum

16 10

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

The London Archives @thelondonarchives.bsky.social · 2d

Medieval seals! 🦭

In our Bridge House Estates collection, we hold some remarkable examples of personal seals used by medieval women to authenticate documents. Some of the most commonly used motifs or designs were radial devices, stylised lilies, birds, and full-length standing women.

2 3 13

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Louvain Rees ⚰️ @hellohistoria.bsky.social · 2d

#31daysofgraves • Angel 👼🏻

A bare-breasted angel 🪦

📍Forrabury Church ⛪

#Cornwall #History

2 4 28

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Louvain Rees ⚰️ @hellohistoria.bsky.social · 3d

#31daysofgraves • Gender 🪦

Mary Richards (d. 1749) 🪦

"An Aged Mother she was indeed, helpful to those that were in need.

She served God whilst she had Breath, which made her happy in her Death."

📍Holy Trinity Church • Marcross ⛪

#Wales #History

2 2 16

South Wales Record Society @swalesrecordsoc.bsky.social · 3d

More in the thread!

Louvain Rees ⚰️ @hellohistoria.bsky.social · Jan 9

I was searching for a burial record and came across one for an 'illegitimate' child who was baptised in Cowbridge.

While the vicar has recorded the father's occupation as 'Labourer', the vicar recorded the mother's occupation as "Strumpet." 👀

#Wales #History

A black-and-white document reading "Labourer" and "Strumpet."

1 2 8

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

The London Archives @thelondonarchives.bsky.social · 3d

Making archival boxes:
Human🤝Machine

If you don't fancy watching a box being made for 90 seconds, I would look away now.

Our conservation team, and their big scary machine, make around 2000 boxes every year. They can be made to almost any size and dimension, and can be completely customised.

1 5 21

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Dr Laura Sangha @lsangha.bsky.social · 3d

📢STORIES & SONGS AT #EXETER PHOENIX📢

This Saturday (11 Oct) - got your ticket yet?

A free show combining history & music inspired by wills from Tudor, Stuart & Georgian England. Preview and link to register 👇

news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-e...

@uniofexeterhass.bsky.social @uoearchhist.bsky.social

Free public festival of inspiring science and culture this month with the University of Exeter

Invasive hornets, air quality and pollution, and the power of comics to make you happy are among a vibrant programme of public events set to be staged this month. Led by scholars at the University

news.exeter.ac.uk

1 3 5

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 6d

We've updated our three BlueSky starter packs for historians.

Our principal list now includes details of 130+ societies and networks, based in the UK and Ireland, that advance the study, research and promotion of history go.bsky.app/AZaYQDd

Please let us know if there are gaps.
#Skystorians 1/2

10 91 150

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

George Marshall Medical Museum @gmmedicalmuseum.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you to new volunteer, Kim, who has worked on the family history of Elizabeth Pugh. Her write-up is now at our website in the usual place! #OutsideTheAsylum medicalmuseum.org.uk/outside-the-...

Elizabeth Pugh - Outside the Asylum — Worcester Medical Museums

medicalmuseum.org.uk

2 3

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Janice Tullock @jtullock.bsky.social · 6d

This must be the prettiest road leading to a local authority archive service? - North East Wales Archives Hawarden.

3 3 10

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru @librarywales.bsky.social · 6d

An important and emotional evening at the Library last night as Peacemakers, a permanent exhibition which celebrates the Welsh Women's Peace Petition officially opened.

Read more: www.library.wales/news/article...

1 1

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Archifau Prifysgol Bangor University Archives @archpbu.bsky.social · 6d

A map of the manor or demesne land of Penrhyn Mawr in the parish of Llandegai in the county of Caernarvon the property of the Right Honourable Richard Pennant

Featuring an inset drawing of the earlier Penrhyn Castle before it was rebuilt by Thomas Hopper between 1822-1837

1803 PFA/6/157

1 4 9

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Scotland's Churches Trust @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social · 22d

Our wonderful volunteer church recorders will look EVERYWHERE when documenting a church.

Proving why this is so vital, Ali Cameron, who leads the Aberdeenshire church recorders, has sent us these amazing 125 year old doodles found in hymnaries & psalm books this week in Hillside Church, Montrose. 😍

5 14

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literatures @mediumaevum.bsky.social · 8d

SSMLL are delighted to announce the opening of our Call for Papers for the 2026 Day Conference, Medieval Wales, which will be held at Cardiff University 25-26 April, 2026.

Proposals should be submitted to Dr David Callander ([email protected]) by 30 November.

Cardiff University and the Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature are pleased to announce a multi-disciplinary conference on medieval Wales, to be held at Cardiff University on the 25th and 26th of April 2026. The conference will provide a space for discussion and collaboration between scholars of all disciplinary backgrounds interested in medieval Wales. The conference programme will include the Medium Ævum annual lecture, which will be delivered by Professor Helen Fulton (University of Bristol). The Henry Loyn Memorial Lecture will be held on the evening of the 24th of April, and will be delivered by Professor John Hines (Cardiff University).

We invite proposals for 20-minute presentations representing any specialization that sheds light on medieval Wales. We shall particularly welcome papers that discuss encounters between different languages and traditions and their consequences. Proposals are welcome from speakers at all career stages and papers can be delivered in English or Welsh. Proposals should include a title and an abstract (100–200 words) and should be submitted to Dr David Callander (callanderd@cardiff.ac.uk) by 30 November.

13 19

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Llafur: The Welsh People’s History Society @llafur.bsky.social · 7d

Join Llafur and our guest speakers to explore the 1925 anthracite strike and its legacy a hundred years on!

📆 25/10/2025
⏱️10:30-16:00
📍Ammanford Welfare Hall

🎟️Free tickets: tinyurl.com/anthracitest...

The Anthracite Strike of 1925
Event Location:
Ammanford Welfare Hall, 11 Wind St, Ammanford SA18 3DN

Event Date: 25/10/2025
Event Starts: 25/10/25 10:30 am
Event Ends: 25/10/25 04:00 pm

Join Llafur and our guest speakers to explore the 1925 anthracite strike and its legacy a hundred years on.

Speakers – Aled Eirug, Robert Smith, Ioan Matthews, Bill Jones and Sian Williams.

15 12

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

The Material Culture of Wills Project @materialwills.bsky.social · 8d

3. Catch up on our latest 'Will of the Month' blog post!

September's post was written by Dylan Cox, a 3rd year Exeter History student 📜

You can catch up on all of our 'Will of the Month' posts - over 20! - on our website 💻

@uoearchhist.bsky.social #history
sites.exeter.ac.uk/materialcult...

🧵3/3

A 1720 drawing of Bridewell Prison, seen from above, from “The Prospect of Bridewell” from John Strype‘s An Accurate Edition of Stow’s “A Survey of London“ (1720) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridewell_Palace#/media/File:Prospect_of_Bridewell.jpg

5 9

Reposted by South Wales Record Society

Jenni Phillips @jenniph.bsky.social · 8d

Huge congratulations to fellow Strathclyde alumnus Fiona Gray-Davies. More details about her excellent dissertation research here: cambrians.org.uk/grants-and-p... - great to see research from a genealogical perspective being recognised in the wider academic history sphere. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory

1 1